Bedpan cushion



H. R. STANLEY BEDPAN CUSHION July 24, 1934.

Filed June 30, 1955 HEA/R/ETTE R. STANLEY INVENTOR.

By W

ATTORNEY I Patented July 24, 1934 BEDPAN CUSHION Henriette R. Stanley, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application June 30, 1933, Serial No. 678,322

2 Claims.

The objects of this invention are to provide a cushion for bed pans, which can be quickly and easily applied to the pan and as readily removed therefrom; which will properly support the pa- 5 tient; which can be used with pans of usual and more or less standard design and which will be so constructed and so attached as not to interfere with the proper use or placing of the pan.

These objects are attained by novel features of construction, combinations and relations of parts, hereinafter pointed out and broadly covered in the claims.

The drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification illustrates certain practical embodiments of the invention, but it is to be understood that the structure may be varied within the true intent and scope of the claims.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view as on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a modification.

The invention is of particular use in conjunction with bed pans of the type shown, that is with the tapered or wedge-shaped end portion 5, leading up to the opening 6. This flattened end portion is the part which usually inconveniences the patient and the invention involves the cushioning of this part and the attachment of the cushion in such a way as not to interfere with the ordinary and intended use of the pan.

The pad or cushion is illustrated at '7, overlying the more or less flat nose portion of the pan and located thereon by a connected underlying portion 8, engaging beneath this part of the pan, said pad and companion portion forming in effect a pocket shaped to fit over the shallow end of the pan.

The pad is firmly but detachably held in the position in which it is located over the pan by a tape or tapes 9, extending as a binding about the edges of the pad and companion pocket portion 8 and reaching about the circumferential bead or flange 10 of the pan. This securing member or members may be bias-cut tape as indicated in Fig. 2, which will fold over the head, as shown, so as to thus locate and hold itself in position surrounding the pan.

The ends of the tape may be suitably fastened together and in the illustration they are shown as secured in overlapping relation by snap fasteners 11, located near opposite edges of the tape, so as to stand above and below the bead.

The inward edge of the cushion is reinforced, held to shape and more securely connected with the surrounding tape, in the illustration, by a cross strip or tape 12, shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, as folded over the inner edge of the cushion and as having its ends secured to the surrounding attaching tape. The cushion extends up at the sides beyond the lower edge of the opening 6, as indicated at 13, in Figs. 1 and 2, and the inner edge of the cushion is cut back on a curve 18, at the center, so that the cross tape 12, at this point forms a drainage depression 14, over this lower end of the opening.

The cushion may be of the pneumatic or hydraulic type, adapted to contain air or liquid" and it is therefore shown as of hollow form and equipped with an inflating or filling tube 15, which may have a suitable stopper, cap or valve as indicated at 16.

While the embodiment heretofore described? with the tape which is secured together about the pan, is a preferred form, it will be readily seen that the securing tape might be continuous as indicated at 17, Fig. 4, and be made sufficiently elastic to be stretched about the rim of the parf and to hold itself and the pad firmly in position on the pan by reason of such resiliency.

The structure is simple and practical, is easily applied to and removed from the pan and when in position on the pan, it forms in effect an inte-" gral part of the pan structure and does not interfere with slipping the pan into position or removing it. The pan is so placed and so formed as to properly support the patient and the pad structure is lowered at the center to drain into the pan" opening while higher at the sides to provide support at opposites sides of the opening. The securing tapes extend in the same plane as the edge of the pad and reach entirely about the perimeter of the pan, so as to firmly secure the pad without increasing the bulk of the device.

What is claimed is:

1. A cushion for a bed pan having a wedgeshaped end portion with a substantially flat upper supporting surface and under surface sloping upwardly thereto from the bottom of the pan and an external bead extending from the junction of said supporting and upwardly sloping surfaces about the perimeter of the pan, said cushion comprising a cushioning pad seated on said upper supporting surface, a pocket forming portion extending from the edges of said pad downwardly about said upwardly sloping undersurface of the pan and a tape extending from the junction of said pad and underlying p'ositioning wed downwardly about said upwardly sloping undersurface of the pan and a tape extending from the junction of said pad and underlying positioning portion, about the bead of the pan and folded over said bead to retain itself in position on the pan, said cushioning pad being of the pneumatic type which can be blown up and the tape which extends about the perimeter of the pan having separable portions attachable' together to suit the inflated condition of the cushioning pad.

HENRIETTE R. STANLEY. 

